Aeroplane.



Panted 1111,11A 13,1917.`

2 SHEETS-SHEET .1.

A mm

@WMA/m11 A "Atty: i

Lf; GALLAUDET.

AEROPLANE. PPLICNHON FILED SEPT. 12 1911.

" Patented Mar.13,1917.

'2 SHEETS- SHEET 2l Ensonr. GALLAUDET, or Nonwrcn, commencer.

AEBOPLAN E.

Specication of Letters Iatent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Application med September 12, 1911. Serial No. 818,847.

`To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Eoson F. GALLAUDET,

a citizen of the United States, and resident be increased or decreased at will to adapt the machine to different speeds; and a second object 1s to provide such a machine with `oppositeIy extending wing surfaces so constructed and operatively connected that any change in the degree olf curvatureof the wing on one side, effected either nutomatically bythe air-pressure thereon or by act' of the operator, will simultaneously produce a corresponding but reverse change in the den-.srce of curvature of the wing on the oppo- .sitc slde of the machine, tliereby incr'using the stability of the aeroplane by providing means for autmnatically euualizing the et'- fccts of unlm|anced air-pressures uponthe opposite sides thereof.

With these objects in View, one feature of in v invention consists in the novel construc- Vtion 'oftflexible fore and aft ribs, which constitutc. a part of the usual frame of the wings. Another feature consists in the provision of xneans by which the curvature of such ribs and consequently of' the wing surfaccscan be adjusted as desired so that the wing surfaces may conformsubstantially to .thc stream lines of' thc air in 'its motion relative thereto. Still another feature consists in so connecting together theficxihle ribs of 'the wings. a rih in om wing with the corresponding rib in the opposite wing, that an excessive prcssurc of the air upon one side gf' the acre-plane may flatten out the wing surface on that side and the decrease in its caulbcr thus produced will cause a corresponding and symmetrical incr-casein the calnher of the ribs and conserment-lyT of the surface of thc'opposite wing. A further feature consists in providing ol'nn'ativc means and connection: whereby the operator may at will either increase or decrease the camber of both wing surfaces whenever changes in speed' or othe conditions may render such changes desirab e or cause or control the difn ferential chan (s in the calmber of the opposite wing sur aees and thereby assume ac tive control of the lateral balance of the aeroplane. The invention also comprises certain other revel features of construction, arrangemeit, and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein there is illustra ted certain specific embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a fore to aft section of a wing, showing inside elevation one of the flexible ribs with which its frame is provided; `Fig. 2, a similar view, showing z` slightly modified arrange ment of the me: uis by which the camber of the ribs is obtained; Fig. 3, a plan of the wings as arranged in connection with the body of a com-rien monoplane type of flying-machine, with the greater part of the upper surface fabric and rih stvucture'cut away, showing diagrammatically the colincctions and oferative means for effecting differential changes in the camber of the oppositelyv extei ding wings; Fig. 4, a sectional detail'l showing on an enlarged 'scale the construction at the rear edge of the wings: Fig. 5, a plan similar to that of the central portion of Fig. 3, showing the addition o'f means for effecting at will like changes in the camber of the two wings; Figli, an enlarged section on the line G (i of Fig. 5, looking toward the front of the machine; and Fig. 7, a side elevation of apart oig the cainher changing means shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings, each of the ribs lt, which are alike in construction and` constitute the principal feature of the frame of the two oppisitely extending wings lV WV of the mont-plane shown, comprises an upper flexible bitten 1 and relatively still lower hatten 2, both of suitable light resilient material, wlich at their front ends are 'secured to a noso-piece 3 `and are held properl y spacedf apart by a series of spacer-links 4 pivoted at eafh Aend to lugs on the inner sides of the hiutens. As here shown, the upper hatten teiminatesat its rear end immediately behind the last of the pvoted spacer-links, but it' may equally well extend.

back and be secured to the rearLend of the lower batten byany suitable sliding'connection which wi l permit the necessary longitudinal -movement between it and the lower batteri at this end, u

For the wing W, a series of the flexible trussed ribs F, thus constructed, are mounted upon two main wingspars S S, which are attached at their inner ends to the body B of the machine, b means of suitable bearings 5 secured to the ower hatten of each rib. The ribs areA connectedv together and held .in proper position at their front ends by a more or less flexible bar or tube E which passes throughan opening in the nose-piece of each rib and is secured at its. inner end to the body of the machine, forming the front or entering edge of the wing. At their rear ends, ,the lower battens of the ribs are suitably secured to a fiexible sla-t T which is also attached at its innerend to the side of the body`and constitutes the rear or trailing edge of the wing. The frame-work thus formed is covered in the usual manner withany suitable lower surface fabric L and with an upper surface fabric U which at its rear edge is secured to a slat which in turn is yieldingly secured to the rear edge Slat T by springs a, thus at all times maintainingj the upper surface fabric taut while permitting it to yield asl required whenever the cambei' of the wing is increased. The wing W is similarly formed, on the other side of the body of the machine, by a corresponding series of ribs R which mounted in like man ner upon the main-wing spars S' C and connected together at their front ends by the `tube E' and at their rear ends by the slat T', are covered with lower surface fabric L and upper surface fabric U.

The camber of the ribs and consequently the curvatiireof the wing surfaces is obtained and maintained, as shown in Figs.. 1 and 3, by means of truss-wires 7 and 10, the wire 7 attached at one end to the front end of the lower batteri and passing over' the" end of the pivoted queen-post6 and around guide-sheaves 8 and the wire l0 attached at one end to the rear end of the lower batten and then passing over the pivoted queen post 9 and around the guide-sheaves 11, which are united in a single wire 12 connected by turnbuckle 13 with wire 12 byv w-liich the truss-wires 7 and 10 of each rib Rare symmetrically connected with similar -truss-wires 7" and- 10 of the corresponding ribs R of the opposite wing. The turnbuckles 13 afford a. convenient means for shorteningand lengthening the wires 12 12 and thereby adjusting the mean camber of .eachv pair of ribs symmetrically located one in one and the other in the opposite wing.

' 65 By providing similar or other suitable means and 10 and 7 and 10' or by making the queen-posts adjustable in length, thecurvature both of the front and rear portions` of the wings and the angles of their entering and trailing edges, as Well as the chord angles of the wings, can be changed as rey guired for more closely conforming the suraces of the wings to the stream line produced by their motion through the air. It is also apparent that, by reason of the 1nteiconnection between the corresponding ribs ofthe opposite Wings, an excessive Wind pressure on the under surface of one wing, W for example, will tend to flatten the-curvature ofl that wing surface, particularly at its outer end, and in so doing will draw upon the wires 12 12 and thereby symmetrically increase the curvature of the wing W', thus automatically equalizing the effects of un balanced air-pressures upon the opposite sides of the machine; Aand further, that where, as here shown, the queen-posts (Sandl 9 are of such length and are so dpla-ced that the `chord angle of the two wings will remain constant and diderential changes in their lift will be produced by changes of curvature only, since in all changes of curvature the ends of the queen-posts on each of the two corresponding ribs of the opposite wings will be moved toward or from each other through equal .arcs and both front and 4rear ends ofeach pair of ribs will rise or be drawn down: the saine vertical distance.

One of the wires 12 l2', preferably that connecting the truss-wires of the outer 4rib of each wing as shown, is passed around a drum 14. fixed upona shaft which is mount the value of equals that of the body or main frame of the machine and is provided with a hand-wheel 15 conveniently located with reference to the operators seat. The drum and wheel, rotating freely, do not interfere with the automatic action by which changes in the relative currature of the two wings are effected as above described by differences in the air-pressures thereon, While at the same time they afford` means by which the operator can at any time either assume control of such automatic action or actively interfere to produce such differential changes of Wing ciirva- I ture as may be desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, a

single truss-Wire 17 is attached 4at one end to the rear end of the lower hatten of each rib R and, after passing over tlie end of a pivoted queen-post 16 and around a guidesheave 18 secured to the nose-piece. of the rhibu is adjustably connected as before to a similarly arranged truss-wire upon the corresponding rib of the opposite wing, the

connecting wire between one pair of ribs beingr passed around a freely rotating drum in the manncaand for the purpose previously described. In thislcillise, however7 increases in. the (.:urvaturc will he accompanied hy in creases in the chord angle of the wing, and vice versa, andconsequently thechanges in the relative lift of the'tw opposite wings due to the differential changes in their curvature will he accentuated by corresl'ionding changes in their chord angle( 1n Figs. 5, 6, and 7 eachl of the connecting wires l2 1:2', instead of pasein straight across the cock-pit formed in t e hody 'of the machine Vas in Fig. 3, is carried over guide-sheaves 1.9 and 19',` except as the drum 14 with its hand\vhee l 15 already described replaces the guide-sheaves 19 in case of the wire connecting the outer rih of the two wings, and down under an intermediate sheave 2U. The guidelsheaves 'lil are mount ed to rotate independently upon a shaft suitalilj.y secured on one side ot the hodv nea r the upper edge' of the cock-pit, and the guidesheaves lil are. similarly mounted upon the opposite side ot' the hody. The sheaves o rotate indcl'iendently and are vern tically adjustable, being mounted to turn upon a shaltf which is supported at. itil ends hy T-nuts through which are screwed respectivel)v right and left threaded vertical posts 22 rotatahlxI mounted insuitahle sup; ports .l in the bottoni of the cocltjpit and operativcl)` ronnected h' means olithe .shaft 2l joui niled in the saine supports and .geared at its ends to the lever ends of the hand-wheel 25 is fixed to tl'eup= per end of the rear threaded post, within l "hwurelmotion thi s in'ipartcd produces an upposits,

convenient reach from the operatons scat.

qIt is evident that when the hand-wl1cel i5.-

turned in one direction the adjufstahle sheaves; will he forced downwardly. thereinv tighteningf the wires l2 l and increasing the rainher oi therihr,l ot hotli wings. and that when the liain l-\\'heel is turned in the opposite direction the sheaves will risc so as to letout the wires and allow therihs to stratigliten out to the extent permitted. Other means for raising and lowering the adjustable sheaves may of course he substr tuted for those here,descril'ied and may he made operative either hy the Vhand or foot ot the operator. This addition. while it does not interfere with the movement ot the coil- `net-ting' wires.: liv which the t'lifi'erential 'changes inthe f'amhcr oi" the two wings is effected as hcreinhctore descrihwl. enables the operator. for thofirst time so tar as l amaware. to change the cin-vature and con sequently the lift oi the wings at will din-ing flight to adapt thein to chaiigi'ng :.:onditionsand particularly to changes in speed. a

smaller curvature with less lift for high speed and viceversa, i .4

Itis to he iioted that a changein the chord angle, of a wing constructed according tio-my invention is a ve ry dil'ercnt thing from what has heretofore heen 'known as a change in the angle of incidence. In the well known types of flying-machines the wing ribs cmployedare rigid in 'tl'ieniselvL-s, whether the wing as a whole can he warped or not. Thus, whenever a part ot' a wing is warped or the entire wing is tilted up to a greater positive angle to increase its lifting power, each in dividual rih necessarily turns in all its parts through the salie angle,`aiid consequently there is no possi iility of distinction hetwcen changes in its chord angle and changes in its angle of incidente since every change in one angle is always accompanied hy a like change in 'the ozher. ll'hen, however,V it is desired to incl-ase the lifting power of my iertihle wing7 the necessary increase in its curvature is accompanied hy different changes in angle at all points on the ribs from front to roar and there is an increase in the down ward angle of the front entering edge as well as in that of the rear trailing edge of the wings; consequently, the chord angle of the wi ig cannot properly he considered in any wa)1 related to any angle of incidence. l'y is in fact one of the chlef purl'ioaes of my invention to eliminate the angle oi' incidence entirely. and to impart to the winnea Fore aiid aft contour which shall follow a5 closely as possible the stream lines produced i;i the motion-of the air relatire to the wings hy the actual motion of the wirigsthroigh the air. It is a well known fact that in passing through the'air ,a

dhwnwardnd forward and thatthe forward current of air which irnpinges uponv the lower sidett the wingr atand near its front edge; an( it is now` ver) generally understood that to avoid air shocks at its enteringl edge, the fronteot a prol'icrly curved wing must turn down sliglitl'v. Toincrease the lifting powtr ol the wing its .rear edge 'hachwardl;v inc ined wing forces 'the air must he 'lel'iressml. hut, if air Shocks accomplane tvpcof flying-machine. extend integrally from oie side to the other of the ouali' nmdified i i its various details. within the scope of thil appended claims. without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

'l Amachine. and. firther. that itcan he vari- What I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. Ina flying machine, the combinationl with a wing structure flexible fore and aft as an entirety and yieldingly held .in cambered 'position of means -for changing the camber without changing the chord angle of the structure.

\ 2. In a flyingniachine, the combination with flexible wing surfaces of means for yieldingly maintaining a camber therein in such manner that changes in theirl fore and aft curvature will be accompanied by similar changes in the angular position .both of their front Aandrear edges and changes in" the curvature of the wing surface on one side will produce symmetrical but reverse changes in the curvature of the wing surface'on the other side of the machine. A Y

3. In a flying machine, the combination with a wing structure comprising fore and aft ribs adapted to flex both at their front` and rear ends of means for maintaining a camber of the ribs and so connecting together the corresponding ribs on opposite sides of the ljgitudinalaxis of the machine with the flattening of the ribs`and wing surface on one side of the machine caused by increase of Wind pressure thereon willproduce a symmetrical increase in-curvature of the corresponding ribs and the wing surface on the other side until the increase in vwing load dueto such increased curvature equals the increase of Wing load due to increased wind' pressure. 4. In a flying machine, the combination with afwing structure comprising liexible ribs and means for'maintain-ing a variable camber therein of connecting means Whereby' changes' in the curvature of a rib on one side will automatically produce equal and reverse changes in the curvature of the` corresponding r1b on the other side of the machine and means whereby the operator may cause or prevent such differential 'changes in the curvature of the ribs on opposite sides of the maclnixe..`

5. In a flying-machine, a wing structure comprising as` elements thereof a series of .liexible ribs, truss-wires -adapted'to main-I tain a camb'er of the ribsyand adjustable connections between the truss-wires of the ribs on one side of the longitudinal center of the wing with ribs symmetrically located on the other side of the longitudinal` center ofthe wing whereby any changes in the camber of a rib on one side will cause equal butreverseV changes in the-camber of the corresponding rib on the other side.

6. In `a dying-machine, the combination with a wing structure comprising a series of flexible trussed `ribs symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of its longitudinal center of'truss-wires each of which is attached at one 'end to an end of a rib. and after passing ranged uponthe corresponding rib on the 7 opposite side of the wing.l

`In a fiylng-machine, thecombin'ation w1th a wlng structure comprisi a series of -glexible trussed ribs symmetrical yarranged en opposite Sides of its longitudi l center truss-wires each of which is att ched at ggfs,

one end to an end of a rib and after passin over a guide-sheave mounted upon 4theri at a point removed from `the :end to which.

the truss-wire is attachedis vconnected with the freeend of the truss-Wire similarly. arranged upon the corresponding rib on the opposite 'side of the wing and means for adjusting the length of .theconnection between the truss-wires of each pair of connected ribs.

8. In a. fiying-machine, the .combination with a wing structure comprising a series of flexible trussed ribs symmetrically arranged1 lon opposite sides of its longitudinal cente'rigg of trussfwires each of which is attached' at- -i one end toan end of a rib and after passin over a gu1de-sheave mounted upon the ri at a point remoyed from'the end to which the truss-wire is attached is connected withthe free end of the `truss-Wire similarly ar# dranged upon the corresponding rib on the opposite side of the wing and a sheave which is mounted upon to' rotate with a shaft carrying a hand-wheel and around whichis 10 wound the connection between at least one pair of oppositely located ribs.

9. with a Wing structure comprising a series of flexible ribs symmetrically arranged' on op- 10 posite sides of its longitudinal axis and trusswires adapted to lmaintain a variable cam ber of the'ribs, of means within the .control of the operator whereby he may vary "the Vtension of the-truss wires to simultaneously 11( eii'ect like changes in the camber of the ribs" and thereby of the entire Wing structureon both sides of the machine. l I` ..10. In-a flying machine, the combination:

with a wing structure comprising a series'115 of flexible cambered ribs symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis of means whereby changes in the curvature of the ribs on one side will produce symmetrical but reverse changes in the curvature of correspondin ribs on the other side of the machine an means whereby the` operator 'may simultaneously produce like changes in the curvature of the ribs on both sides of the machine.

11. Ina flyingmachine, a wing structure comprising a serles of ribs which are fiexible throughout their length and are connected together at .their front and rea-r ends to form a 'wing frame, truss-wires adapted to 130 In a flying machine, the combination maintain a variable camber of the ribs by flexing both their front and rear ends, and upper and lower surface fabrics the rear edge of the upper surface fabric being yield-l 5 ingly secured to therear edge of the wing frame.

12. In a flying machine, the combination with a flexible cambered wing structure comirising a series of Vflexible ribs supported intermediate their endsorward of their longitudinal centers and covered above and below with suitable surface coverings of means for depressing and raising both the front and rear ends of the ribs equally to change the curvature without changing the chord angle of the wing structure'.A

13. In a flying machine, the combination with flexible wing surr scon'lpri-sing a series of flexible ribs supported intermediate their ends forward of their longitudinal centers and covered abore and below with suitable surface coverings of means for maintaining a camber of said surfaces which is automatically variable under variations in `the air pressure thereon without `change in the chord angle of the surfaces and means ,within the control of the operator for chang ing the camber also without change in. the chord angle to adjust the curvature et said surfaces to the stream llines of the air in its motion relative thereto. i

14.`In a flying machine, the combination with flexible cambered s wing surfaces ladapted to change of curvature without 5 change of chord angle of means actuated by the flattening of the curvature of the wing Surface on one side for producing an increase in the curvatureof the wing surface on the opposite side of the machine.

15. In a flying machine, the combinationwith curved wing surfaces adapted to be flexed to varying degrees of curvature with similarchanges in the angular position of i both their front and rear edges of means actuated by a change in the curvature et the wing surface on one side for producing a symmetrical but reverse change in the currature oi the, wing surface onthe opposite side of the machine.

16. In a flying machine, the combination with curved wing surfaces Vadapted to be Hexe'd to varying degrees of curvature with similar changes in the angular position et both their front and rear edges of means actuated by a change in the curvature of the wing surface on one, side for l'uoducing a vsymmetrical but reverse change in the curvature ofthe wing surface on the` omiosite side of the machine and means for sii'nilarly changing the curvature of the wing surfaces on both sides of themachine.

17. A wing 'structure for flying machines which includies as an element thereof :fr-ib comprising` licxiblegupper and lower battens bot-h of which, secured together atv their oted spacer links.

front ends, extend integrally through sulistantially the entire length of the ribahd are suitably spaced apart by a series 0f plv- 'l'8. A wing struc ture for flyil machines which includes as elements thereo a series of flexible trussed ribs.. each comprising an up per and lower hatten which extend integral y throu h substantially thc entire length of the ri i and are secured together rigidly at their front ends and yieldingly at their rear pivoted spaceclinics and means7 including ai queei'i-post mounted upon the lower-'.liattenfl and a trussswire att-milled at one, emitto the rear end ot the lewe hatten and. passingover the uueelrpost, wh ereby the operator may control the degree c f camher of the ribs duiing flight. w

20. A wing struc ture' ior ying-machines which includes as el :merits a series of exible trussed ribs symmetrically arranged onfthe opposite sides then-,ot and each comprising an upper and lower hatten securedl together at their front ends, 1nd heldvsuitably spaced apart by pivoted Spicer-links, lower and 11pper surface fabrics the latter yieldingly secured along the rear edge of the Wing, and means comprising queenpoets and trusswires and connect ons between the trusswires of ribs corres )o'ndingly located on opposite sides of the wing whereby suitable amber of .the ribs is maintained and any torce acting to decrease the camber of the ribs on one side will produce a corresponding and synui'ietrical ir crease in the cainber of.,

the ribs on the opposite side of the wing.

2i. ln a tlyingn achinc. the colnbination with'a wing; structtre which includes as elcments a series of llc xible ribs synu'uetrically arranged on oppos te sides ol' the machine and is prorided with means. including truss wires and connect ons lli-tween the truss' wires of ribs corres' willingly luf-ated onl oppasito sides ol the :anu-hi: c whereby a camber of the ribs is n aia'iIaiaHl and an 'force 6 I 1,2`19,2s5 y operator may siinultaneouslvyv increase or de- :nent having an air reaction sr'face and crease the camber ofthe ribs on both sides of mems to retain the angle of incidence of 13` the machine. A 1 l said element unaltered during distortion.

22.' In a'lying machine adistortble aerof 5 foil, and a mea-ns to maintain the angle of J EDASQN F' GALLAUDET' incidence of the nerofoil unultd during l I'n presence of- --distcrtiom JOHN KUKLA,

23. In n ying. machine, a `distortable'ele- HERMAN ALOFSIN, 2nd. 

